Since early July, when La Farina left Sicily, the political climate of Palermo had remained more or less equable. Depretis had arrived on 21 July, determined to try and restore confidence between Garibaldi and Cavour, and hoping to find an agreed policy in annexing Sicily to Piedmont with Garibaldi's good will. In his talks with Victor Emanuel and Farini preparatory to leaving on this difficult mission, Depretis had been given to expect material help in his task of restoring order in the island, but assistance was made conditional on evidence of his good faith in preparing the ground for a plebiscite and annexation. Cavour intended that, as soon as possible, Depretis should publish the Piedmontese constitution as the first step towards union, and the inducement was held out that this would make it easier to find money for the Sicilian government. Here was the first step in a programme upon which moderates and radicals were not far from agreement.

The arrangement of forces in Palermo at the beginning of August does not show a straight fight between moderates and radicals. On the contrary, Crispi for the moment was surprisingly enough on the same side as Depretis and Cavour, while in so far as there was an opposition it was to be found in the bulk of those who wanted only a conditional union with the north. Many of the autonomists had been hoping to have a proper Sicilian parliament, and to restore the island constitution of 1812 and 1848.